Knoxville’s Ambulance Provider Incurs Hefty Fines

Knox County’s ambulance provider, AMR, has been levied fines amounting to almost $500,000 due to delayed responses to emergency calls in May. Although AMR showed improvement in its overall response times, it fell short of meeting the 90% response rate target on critical calls and experienced slower response times within Knoxville city limits compared to the previous month of April.

Contractual Compliance Standards

Under the new contract in effect since February 1, AMR is penalized for failing to achieve a 90% response rate on the most critical calls within specific timeframes. Response times for priority 1 calls must be quicker in Knoxville city (within 10 minutes) than in the county outside city limits (within 20 minutes). Penalties are also imposed for delayed responses to less urgent calls.

Response Time Breakdown

While AMR improved its overall response times, there were discrepancies in different regions. In Knoxville city, crews arrived late for the most serious calls 31% of the time, resulting in fines of nearly $245,000. In eastern Knox County, penalties of $82,000 were accrued as crews exceeded the 20-minute threshold for critical calls 13% of the time. Western Knox County achieved the goal for critical calls but was fined $27,000 for delays on less severe calls.

Scrutiny and Improvement Efforts

AMR has faced scrutiny over delayed response times during medical emergencies in Knox County. The company has implemented programs to enhance its services, resulting in gradual improvements in response times since the new contract commenced in February.

Are Response Times Getting Better?

In May, overall response times met the contractual requirements 79% of the time. There are varying response time benchmarks for calls of different severity levels, with priority 1 calls denoting life-threatening situations. While response times in Knoxville were within 10 minutes 77% of the time, there were higher compliance rates in eastern and western Knox County for priority 1 calls.

Financial Implications of Delayed Responses

AMR faced penalties for the first time in May, with fines attributed to ambulances arriving late by defined margins. The fines are deducted from the annual subsidy Knox County pays AMR for increased staffing requirements. If penalties exceed the subsidy, AMR is liable to pay the county the difference. The collected penalty funds go into the county’s general fund.

Conclusion

The financial penalties imposed on AMR highlight the importance of timely emergency response services. While efforts have been made to enhance response times, continued vigilance and improvement are necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of Knox County residents.